Aerosol can spray head



Nov. 3, 1959 J. A. DOYLE 2,911,158

AEROSOL CAN SPRAY HEAD Filed Feb. 29, 1956 s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR BY 46AM, ALLA-Loma ATTORNEY fil,"

Nov. 3, 1959 Filed Feb. 29, 1956 1n N. v A

J. A. DOYLE:

AEROSOL `JAN SPRAY HEAD 3 Sheets-Sheetl 2 ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 J. A. DoYLE AEROSOL CAN SPRAY HEAD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 29, 1956 INVENTOR ym@ s# v j MM w.

LOCKS ATTORNEY 2,911,158 AEROSOL CAN. SBRAYHEAQ James A. Doyle, Baltimore, Md., assignor of` twenty-four and one-half percent to Henry L2 Wingo, Kingsville,

Md., and twenty-four and. onefhallg percent (o Vernon Caldwell, Baltimore, Mtl.

Application February 29, 1956, SerialNo. 56,8,452-

Claims. (Cl. 2391-573) This invention relates to aerosol packagesprays and more particularly to metering aerosol heads, specifically for metering predetermined quantities offshavingcream, toothpaste, perfume, and other Vproducts, of whichaspe.- cic small quantity at one time is desired.

Prior `to the instant inventionQaerosol spray heads have been designed to effect more or less continuous sprays into space in which the active solution is dissolvedl in the propellant such as freon. Conventional insecticide aerosol spray packages are of this type. Similarly, andprior to the instant invention, there have beenv available. aerosol spray heads for spraying, more or less continuously, foams such as shampoos and shaving creams. In such foam type aerosol spray apparatus, the propellantmay be par tially emulsied with the active ingredient.

.It is an object of the instant invention to provide a novel aerosol spray head which may be easily manufactured, which will have relatively few parts, and will serve universally to meter space sprays, foam products and other' products such as perfume and toothpaste.

It is another object of the instantinvention to provide a metering aerosol spray head vwhich can be economically manufactured in quantity production, which will have a self-cleaning external orifice, which is effective to spray materials of relatively heavy solid content, which will not require cleaning, which will provide a relatively great degrec of control of spray volume and4 pattern, whichwill permit spraying of a relatively great number o'f materials of wide range of viscosity, which will inhibit and break up settlement and flocculation, which will eliminate malfunction due to clogging of the valve seat or orifices, which will involve positive needle valve operation and which may be lever operated and which will be operative to spray a predetermined or measuredquantity ofthe required product. A

Other objects and the nature and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective of an aerosol package having an aerosol head in accordance with` the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in perspective of the aerosol spray head in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of, anaerosol spray head in accordance with the invention.

Fig; 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with some of theparts in a different position.

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective of two complementary die castings of the aerosolrspray head in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in perspective of afinger lever which is part of the aerosol-spray head in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewshowing the spray orice and valve modified forv the spraying of foam.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a modiedform of the invention.

ICC

Fig. 9 is a view similartoFig. 8 with some of; the parts ina different position.

Referring to Figuresk l6 inclusive, the main body elcment. 10-of the aerosol spray head may be a zinc die cast,- ing comprising av lower, generally disc-like portion 11, la central column-like portion 1,2 and a generally cone-shaped upper portion 13, the axis of s-aidcone-shaped portion 13 being generally at rightangles tothe, axis of'saidcolumnlike portion 12.

The transverse section taken horizontally throughsaid column-like portion 12- being. generallyk in the form of'a triangle having anapex 12a o n one side and abase 12b on the other side `so thattheportion 12 is generally prism shaped. The element 13 of generally conical shape has its converging end 13b onthefsame side offvthewbody 16 as the apex 12a.

The portion 11` of the body 10 is provided withta depending circular skirt which is adapt-ed to engage the walls 15 forrrringl an opcningvthereforin the can top 16. The can top 1K6 is notpart of the aerosol head, however, the body 1t) is* adapted t`o beassernbled thereto by. engaging the skirt-14with the 'Walls..1`5\ of the can top 16 prior to assembling4 thecantop 16 with the aerosol can 17.

Accordingly, it willbe understood that the aerosolk can may be filled the desired ingredients pri-or to assembling therewith a pre-assembled aerosol head 10 and can topV 16. v A v i Extending through the portion 171 and upwardly and into the portion 12`is the 'generallyy cylindrical passage 18A. At theV top of the passage, 1 3A and formed on the interior .of the portion 1,2 lthere is the annular shoulder 19.

Against'the annular shoulder `19 and immediately therebelowrislocated thedisc-shaped screen fabric 20 which kis held in place by the annular wall 21 ofthe polyethylene ttiber,22,which, in turn,y isfheld in place within the passage 18 ofy the, portionwlZby aforce tit. The lower end of the pfolyethylene'tube 2 2 is long enough to extend to a place lnearthejl'lottom of the aerosol can'17.

' Above the screen 20, within( the body 10 and generally about where theA portion 12 is integrally joined tothe portion 13, there is provided a generally bullet shaped passageway 23 leading to the orifice 24.

Ther cylindrical wall 25a of the gasket 37 on the valve i member 26serves towclose the orice 24 when` the aerosol head is in the position shown in Fig. 4. When the valve member 26 is in theposition shown in Fig. 3, the orifice 2 4 is open to the metering chamber C formed in part by the annular slot S in the valve member 26. Thus, it will-be understood that when the valve member 2,6v is in open position asA shown in Fig. 4, the metering chamber, C communicatespwith the orice formed by the cylindrical bore 39 through the passageway P formed in the interiorof cone-Shaped upper portionI 13. Accordingly, a measured amount of `product to be sprayed will emerge from the spray orifice at corresponding to the volume of the metering chamber C. It will also be understood thatwhen the valve 26 is inthe position shown in Fig. 3, thel spray orifice at 39 is effectively closed but the metering chamber C Yis in communication with the orifice 24 so.that the metering chamberV may be charged or recharged in predetermined volume.

The valve .member 26` comprisesl a valve head 27, a reducedcylindrical neck portion 28 and a cylindrical valve `stem 29.

The valve head V27 is formed 'with a cylindrical portion 30. having cylindrical walls 25, the slot S forming in part the metering chamber C, the cylindrical portion 31 having an end wall 32, a ,cylindrical extension 33, a frusto-conical portion 34, and` a very small clean-out cylindrical projecting member 35.

Thewall 25aof the gasket 37 mounted on the valve member 26 is slidingly fitted Within the cylindrical passage 36 of the portion 13.

Arranged about the cylindrical extension 33 in a tight iit is the nylon sealing Vgasket 37 in the shape of an annular ring, the outer face of which is adapted toengage the wall 38 within the portion 13 in order to effectively seal the aerosol head when the device is not in operation and in this position the small projecting member 35 will be in close sliding contact with -the cylindrical bore 39 Iforming the Spray orice for the aerosol head so that the spray orifice will always be kept clean while the device is not operating.

Cooperating with the portion 13 is the dishashaped cap element 41 comprising `the disc-like portion 42 formed with the bore 43 for cooperation with the stern 29.

The disc-like portion 42 is also provided with a peripheral flange 44 for engagement with the interior walls 45 of the portion 13. The circular rim-like end 46 of the portion 13 is adapted to be turned over the annular shoulder 47 of the peripheral flange 44 when the cap 41 is assembled with the portion 13.

Prior to assembly of the cap 41 with the portion 13 of the body 10, the annular diaphragm 48 is assembled with the portion 28 of the valve member 26 by molding it in place or in any other suitable manner. The portion 49 of the diaphragm 48 near its periphery is adapted to engage on one side 50 with the wall 51 of the portion 13 and on the other side 52 with the wall 53 of the peripheral flange 44 of the cap 41, thereby forming a compression fit between the Walls 50 and 53, the degree of compression t being controlled by seating of the wall 53 on the shoulder 45a.

A compression spring 54 in the shape of a frustoconical helix engages at its base the inner wall 55 of the cap 41 and at its opposite end engages the washer 56 which presses against the side 52 of the diaphragm 48.

Thus, it will be understood that under the inuence of the spring 54, after the cap 41 is assembled to the portion 13 of the body 10, the diaphragm 48 which is sealed at its periphery by the walls 51 of the portion 13 and wall 53 of the cap 41, will be held in sealing relation against the wall 57 of the valve member 26 and so seal the chamber 58 from the chamber 59.

Hinged to the end 60 of the stem 29 by pintle 61 is the operating lever 62 comprising a leg 63 and a platform 64. The operating lever 62 is shown in full lines in Figure 3 in inoperative position such as is normal when the aerosol can is packed either before or after loading. The operating lever 62 in Figure 3 is shown in broken lines in position ready for operation of the aerosol head.

In the position shown in Figure 4, the wall 65 of the leg 63 engages the projecting bar 66 formed integrally with the cap 41 so that the projecting bar 66 serves as a fulcrum for the operating lever 62.

One side 67 of the platform 64 of the operating lever 62 is formed with a nger contact portion 68 and also with a portion 69 which follows the contour of the uppermost section of the portion 13 of the body 10.

In operation, with the operating lever 62 in the position shown in Fig. 4, with the device fully assembled including a loaded aerosol can, when the finger contact portion 68 is depressed the leg 63 will rotate about said fulcrum 66 and pull the valve stem 29 through the action of pintle 61 which has some lost motion, against the force of said compression spring 54 so that the valve 26 will move toward the cap member 41 thereby covering the orifice 24 and opening the metering chamber C to the spray orice at 39 through the passageway P. As the mechanismis held in this position, the contents of the metering chamber C, which are held under pressure by the propellant, which may be freon, causes the combination of the propellant and active ingredients to emerge from the oriice 39 in metered or measured amount.

l This metered or measured amount of spray ingredient may be convenient when the material being sprayed is toothpaste, for example.

When the operators finger is removed from the finger contact portion 68, the compression spring 54 will take over the automatic movement of the valve member 26 to close off communication between the metering chamber C and spray orifice 39 and at the same time will open metering chamber C to communicate with the interior of the aerosol can 17 which is held under pressure by the propellant, which may be freon, causing the combination of the propellant and active ingredients to rise upwardly through the tube 22 through the screen 2t? through the orifice 24 and ll the metering chamber C.

The full throw of the valve member 26 from fully closed position to fully opened position is controlled by the length of the inwardly turned rim 70 extending from the disc portion 42 of the cap 41. Accordingly, the rim 70. insures a constant position of the valve when it is fully open and this in turn assures a constant spray condition until the metering chamber is emptied.

Referring to Figure 7, the portion 13 of the body element 10 has been modified as shown at 13 and correspondingly the portions 34 and 35 of element 26 have been modified as shown at 34 and 35. Further, correspondingly, the spray orice 39 has been modied as shown at 39. In this modified form of device a Spray in the form of foam can be eected.

Referring to Figs. S and 9, a modified form of device is disclosed wherein the device may function to discharge a metered amount of material or a continuous spray as desired. In Fig. 8 the device is in position to prepare for the discharge of a metered amount corresponding to the volume of metering chamber C. In Fig. 9, the device shown in Fig. 8 is in position to discharge a continuous spray .and not a metered amount. In Figs. 8 and 9 the cap element 41' comprises the disc-like portion 42 formed with the bore 43 for cooperation with the valve stem 29; however, the full throw of the valve member 26 from fully closed position to fully open position is controlled by the location of the inner wall 55 of the cap 41'. In this form, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the valve element 26 has a greater throw because the inwardly turned rim 70 as shown in Figs. 34 and 4 has been omitted in the modiiied device shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Accordingly, it will be understood that the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be operated to both spray a metered charge and also a continuous charge of spray as when the device is in the position illustrated in Fig. 9.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an aerosol spray head for an aerosol spray can, a die cast body comprising a disc-like lower portion, an intermediate column-like portion and a generally cone shaped upper portion, a die cast dish-shaped cap complementing said body and associated with the base of said cone-shaped upper portion, the axis of said cone-shaped portion being generally transversely disposed with respect to the general axis of said column-like portion, said column-like portion being generally in the shape of a triangular prism with the apex of its triangular section facing in the same general direction as the projected apex of said generally cone-shaped upper portion, said disc-like lower portion having a diameter greater than the altitudeof the triangular section of said intermediate column-likeportion, said lower portion having an extending part adapted to be associated with the margin forming a hole in the tope of an aerosol can, said upper portion being formed with a spray orifice, interior walls forming a valve chamber, a valve in said chamber for controlling said'spray orifice, an annular slot formed in said valveto form at least a portion of av metering chamber, interior walls in said lower portion and said intermediate portion formingl a passage leading from the bottom of said lower portion through said intermediate portion to said metering chamber, said `valve having walls for controlling said passage leading to said metering chamber.

2. The structure recited in claim 1, said yspray orice being generally at the apex of the cone-shaped upper portion.

3. The structure recited in claim 2, the upper portion of said walls forming said passage leading to said metering chamber being restricted to form a secondV orifice, said valve in closed position closing said rst orice, said Valve in open position closing said second orice, whereby when said valve is in open position said metering cham ber will be operative to exhaust through said first milice.

4. The structure recited in claim 1, a diaphragm within said upper portion cooperating to form and separating said valve chamber from a motor chamber, vsaid cap anclsaid diaphragm enclosing said motor chamber, said cap` Y ment in one direction by said valve seat, means on the interior of said cap for limiting the'movement of said diaphragm inthe opposite direction.

6. The structure recited in claim 5, said valve stem extending through said cap to its exterior, said means for operating said vaive comprising a lever secured to said extended bottom of said Valve stem by a lost motion hinge connection, fulcrum means formed on the exterior of said cap, said lever being adapted to cooperate with said fulcrum means for operating said valve. Y

7. The structure recited in claim 6, said lever comprising a leg and a nger engaging platform, said leg being generally at right angles to said platform, said leg being connected to said valve stem and said platform being the free end of said lever.

8. The structure recited in claim 7, the fulcrum means being arranged on said cap below the point where the valve stem emerges from said cap, said leg and said platform being so arranged one with respect to the other that in a rst position when the leg engages the fulcrum means, the platform extends in a direction away from the spray orifice and in a second position the leg is swung upwardly through an arc of approximately causing the platform to extend over 'the said upper portion and point in the same general direction as the spray orice.

9. The structure recited in claim l, a tube in at least a portionr of saidv passage leading from the bottom of said lower portion through said intermediate portion, an annular 'shoulder formed in the interior walls of said passage, and a screen heldagainst said shoulder by the upper portion of said tube.

10. In an aerosol spray head for an aerosol spray can, an integral valve Vbody casting comprising a disc-like lower portion, an intermediate column-like portion, and a generally cone-shaped upper portion, a dish-shapedbonnet casting complementing said body and associated with the base of said conewshaped upper portion internally thereof, the axis of *saidv cone-shaped portion being generally transversely disposedfwith respect to the generalA axis of said column-like portion, said column-like portionbeing generally in the shape of a triangular prism with the apex of its triangular section facing in the same genv eral direction as the projected apex of said generally coneshaped upper portion, said disc-like lower portion having a diameter greater than the altitude of the triangular section of said intermediate column-like portion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 991,725` Kennedy May 9, 1911 1,465,147 Reidt Aug. 14, 1923 1,508,265 Bailey Sept. 9, 1924 2,136,940 `v Ebrecht NOV. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS l 996,800 France Sept. 5, 1951 

